Adult ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; surgery ; Genital Diseases, Male ; surgery ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; adverse effects ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; Male ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Urethra

The average life expectancy in Macau is ranking the second in the world, the consumption of fresh medicinal plants is a profound culture in Macau. The paper focus on the distribution of the antioxidant herbs, a comprehensive investigation and analysis the amount of the plant resources was carried out. The antioxidant activity of alcohol extracts was determined by using the DPPH method, and six kinds fresh herbs with high antioxidant free radical activity were screened out. Reference to adult daily dose of vitamin C, it is calculated that the daily dose amount of fresh herbs is less than 200 g. For the expected shortage of resources and the ecological status of Macau, we give some suggestions of herbal introduction in population ecology reconstruction.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Macau ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn the recent twenty years, the diaphragmatic contraction, relaxation functions and electric activity have been explored through electromyography (EMG) and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) determination. But these techniques required some complex and expensive instruments, so the diagnosis and treatment of children's diaphragmatic fatigue have not been well evaluated. The present study explored the diagnosis of children's diaphragmatic fatigue through measuring ribcage-abdomen motion and analyzed its asynchrony.

METHODSFifty-three children (male 37, female 16, and age rage from 1 months to 9 years) with respiratory rate > 30 breaths/min, heart rate > 110 beats/min, and respiratory dysfunction had asynchronized ribcage-abdomen motion showed by impedance respirograph (IRG). The authors observed whether ribcage-abdomen motion was synchronic and calculated M levels (staggered peak time/total duration of the breathing cycle). The ribcage and abdomen outputs were displayed on vertical (for rib cage) and horizontal (for abdomen) axes of X-Y instrument. In addition, the change of respiratory frequency and heart rate was observed and arterial blood-gas analysis was also performed.

RESULTS(1) M levels in one-dimensional IRG were positively correlated with alpha angle in two-dimensional IRG (r = 0.956, P < 0.001). Asynchronized respiratory motions could be divided into three types. type I showed completely contra-directional movements of respiration, M levels for (48.1 +/- 4.4)%, an irregularly clockwise loop in the two dimensional IRG, and alpha angle for (138.3 +/- 15.0) degrees. In type II, one dimensional IRG showed displaced peak of the chest and abdomen motion curves, M levels were (16.5 +/- 4.7)%, two dimensional IRG was displaced in a counterclockwise direction, and alpha angle was (55.3 +/- 10.8) degrees. In type III, abdominal motion curve of one dimensional IRG had double peaks, M levels were 0, two dimensional IRG was presented as 8-shaped double circles, alpha angle was (41.3 +/- 3.8) degrees; (2) pH levels in the patients with type I and type II diaphragmatic fatigue were significantly lower, and PCO(2) levels were significantly higher than those with type III or in the normal subjects (P < 0.001 for all), but there was no statistically significant difference between type III and the normal subjects (P > 0.05); (3) Both of respiratory rate and heart rate in type I, type II and type III were higher than those in the normal subjects (all P < 0.001), and the differences among the three types were significant (P < 0.001 for all); (4) Both M levels and alpha angle were negatively correlated with pH levels (r = -0.514, P < 0.001 and r = -0.497, P < 0.001), while positively correlated with PCO(2) levels (r = 0.672, P < 0.001 and r = 0.625, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) IRG can be reliably used to diagnose children's diaphragmatic fatigue. This technique is simple and easy to perform and non-invasive. It is therefore worthy of recommending for further clinical investigations. (2) According to the characteristics of IRG, diaphragmatic fatigue can be divided into three types. (3) The development of children's diaphragmatic fatigue has a series of characteristic changes. (4) To avoid the patients suffering from respiratory failure, it is the key time to adopt the policies of prevention and treatment when IRG shows signs of type III diaphragmatic fatigue.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diaphragm ; physiopathology ; Fatigue ; classification ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Respiration ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods

OBJECTIVETo develop a virulent heat-evil-induced thrombosis animal model, and provide a rational animal model for pathogeny and pathogenesis research of thrombosis-related diseases, anti-thrombosis activity screening and pre-clinical studies of CAHT formula.

METHODSD rats were pretreated with carrageenin (Ca) intraperitoneal injection, followed by intravenous injection of endotoxin (LPS from E. coli O111:B4) 50 microg x kg(-1) 16 h later. Thrombosis in rat tails were observed during 12-24 h after injection of LPS. The inflammatory mechanism of this model were investigated by analyzing serum level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF 1alpha, CD11b/CD18 expression of white blood cells (WBC) and P-selectin expression of vessel walls.

RESULTIn LPS/Ca model group, thrombosis can be clearly observed in the distal part of rat tails after 12-24 h of LPS/Ca treatment. High level of TNF-alpha and IL-6 can be measured in serum. The expression of CD11b/CD18 in WBC and P-selectin in vessel endothelium significantly increased and the number of WBC in peripheral blood markedly decreased shortly after LPS/Ca treatment. The adherence of white blood cells to vessel endothelium which can be seen by microscope mainly contributed to the decrease of WBC. The results indicated that there was obvious inflammation after treatment with LPS/Ca, suggesting that inflammation was the key mechanism for this model.

CONCLUSIONThis model was developed through treatment of LPS in combination with Ca, of which LPS is considered to be an exotic virulent heat-evil in TCM, while the inflammatory molecules produced in this model, such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, CD11b/CD18 and P-selectin belong to internal virulent heat-evils, so this animal model consists of pathogeny and pathogenesis of virulent heat-evils. virulent heat-evil.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; blood ; Animals ; CD11b Antigen ; metabolism ; CD18 Antigens ; metabolism ; Carrageenan ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endotoxins ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To investigate the efficacy of the bioactive artificial vertebrae of a nano- hydroapatite crystals and polyamide 66 composite(n-HA/PA66)to restore the height and architecture of thoracolumbar burst fracture.Methods From December 2003 to February 2006,38 patients(29 males and 9 females)with a mean age of 35.6 years(17-63 years)were treated surgically through anterior ap- proach for decompression and implanted with the bioactive artificial vertebrae of n-HA/PA66 composite to reconstruct the structure of the thoracolumbar burst fractured vertebra.Results All the patients were successfuly followed-up for an average of 8 months,ranging from 6 to 21 months.The bioaetive artificial vertebrac of n-HA/PA66 composite were fused with the receptor bone 3-4 months after operation.The neu- rological function of the patients was restored partially or completely.The thoracolumbar spine was stable during physical examination and the height of thoraeolumbar burst fractured vertebrae that had been restored did not changa during the follow-up.Conclusions Our results show the bioaetive artificial vertebrae of n-HA/PA66 can restore the height and structure of thoracolumbar burst fractured vertebrae and reconstruct the structure of the tboraeolumbar vertebrae effectively,indicating that the bioaetive artificial vertebrae of n- HA/PA66 can be used extensively in clinical spinal surgery.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from P.americana L..METHODS The 90％ ethanol extract from P.americana was isolated and purified by silica,ODS,Sephadex LH-20,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Sixteen compounds were isolated and identified as L-leucine (1),uracil (2),acetamide (3),valine (4),γ-aminobutyric acid (5),glycerol (6),methyl,2-piperidinecarboxylate (7),pyrazine (8),protocatechuic acid-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9),thymidine (10),cyclo (Pro-Ser) (11),cyclo (Pro-Asn) (12),phenylalanine (13),4-(2-aminoethyl) benzene-1,2-diol (14),inosine (15),tyramine (16).CONCLUSION Compounds 3,7-12,14,16 are all isolated from Periplaneta americana and genus Periplaneta for the first time.

Objective To explore the problems of microsurgical treatment of multiple intracranial aneurysms with regard to the indications,surgical timing,operative approaches and the prevention of complications, and improve their diagnoses and treatments. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 33 patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms admitted to our hospital from Jan.2000 to Dec.2008 and their clinical manifestations,imaging features and microsurgical treatments were summarized. Results In the 33 cases of multiple intracranial aneurysms,the male-to-female sex ratio was 1:1.75 and the average age at onset of symptoms was 56.52.Twenty-four patients showed good postoperative prognosis(Glasgow Outcome Scale IV-V) with 2 deaths.Conclusion Individual treatment should be adopted in the treatment of differently localized multiple intracranial aneurysms with different sizes and clinical classifications,and the utilization of temporary blockade and ultrasound during the operation can improve the therapeutic effects and reduce the postoperative complication rates.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSWe analyzed the clinical data of 56 cases of obstructive azoospermia, 43 of them with ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO), and the other 13 suspected of epididymal obstruction. The diagnostic methods included semen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and vasography when necessary. The 43 patients with EDO were treated by transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct (TURED), and 11 of the 13 cases of suspected epididymal obstruction were confirmed by scrotal exploration and underwent either bilateral or unilateral vasoepididymostomy. The patients were followed up for 3 -51 months for postoperative semen quality and impregnation.

RESULTSOf the 43 azoospermia patients with EDO treated by TURED, 36 (83.7%) showed improved semen parameters and 11 (25.6%) achieved pregnancies. Among the 11 cases of azoospermia with confirmed epididymal obstruction treated by vasoepididymostomy, 6 (54.5%) had sperm in the semen assay and 3 (27.3%) achieved pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONSemen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, TRUS and vasography are important diagnostic methods for obstructive azoospermia. TURED is effective for azoospermia with EDO, while vasoepididymostomy is preferable for the treatment of azoospermia with epididymal obstruction.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; etiology ; surgery ; Epididymis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Vas Deferens ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of saffor injection on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.

METHODSeventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 15, in each), normal control groups, I/R control groups, low-dose treatment groups, middle-dose treatment groups and high-dose treatment groups. After rat's I/R injury model was established, renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urine osmotic pressure and urine osmotic pressure/blood osmotic pressure, the apoptosis rate in I/R renal tissure was measured by TUNEL method and caspase-3 concentration was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTReperfusion of the ischemic kidney induced marked renal dysfunction. Saffor injection significantly inhibited the reperfusion-associated increase in apoptosis rate and caspase-3 protein absorbance value. Moreover, the renal dysfunction at all treatment groups was markedly ameliorated by Saffor injection. (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results show that saffor injection significantly reduces the renal dysfunction and injury caused by I/R of the kidney, And the protective effect of Saffor injection may be related to the inhibition of cell apoptosis and caspase-3 gene expression following renal I/R.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Creatinine ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Injections ; Kidney ; blood supply ; Male ; Osmotic Pressure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; enzymology ; pathology